The Heart Land

I grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska and lived there until I turned 18 and joined the military. Nebraska is known for being very, well, flat, and maybe even boring (at least, that’s what I thought growing up). It’s definitely not a “destination” for photographers like some places are.

I fell in love with photography in High School, but didn’t quite yet have the passion for landscapes. In the past few years my style and vision have grown immensely and I’ve been photographing more and more landscape images, and somehow got in my head that the “boring” place I grew up in just might actually be beautiful.

I’ve been wanting to photograph the beauty of my home state of Nebraska for well over a year now, and last week I finally got the chance. I went out to visit family with my man +Brian Matiash and we drove around with our camera on a very fun adventure. Luckily the sky was gorgeous that day and we ran around in search of beautiful compositions … and we found plenty. I think part of the fun was the challenge of searching for something unique and gorgeous to photograph … it wasn’t laid out in front of us.

I can’t wait to go back home and find more like this photograph … which will, very soon, be hanging on my wall. :) This image is my favorite from my trip and was photographed just South of Schuyler, Nebraska.

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My name is Nicole and I'm a photographer, author, & educator living in the US. I'm ACE certified in Photoshop, write for Photofocus, and do lots of traveling. I also have an online store, where I sell presets, actions, eBooks, & textures. Click here to learn more.

+Nicole S. Young I grew up in Kansas…I understand flat! But I had yet to find a place where you can get great Thunderstorm clouds without anything in the way till I moved to Southern Arizona 3yrs ago.Gorgeous picture!

+Nicole S. Young I grew up in Kansas…I understand flat! But I had yet to find a place where you can get great Thunderstorm clouds without anything in the way till I moved to Southern Arizona 3yrs ago.Gorgeous picture!

That's quite beautiful, +Nicole S. Young – you definitely get a very remote and peaceful feeling from that lone tree above the field beneath the colourful sky. I hope you're going to print this one big!

That's quite beautiful, +Nicole S. Young – you definitely get a very remote and peaceful feeling from that lone tree above the field beneath the colourful sky. I hope you're going to print this one big!

I get what you’re saying about the beauty of the Mid-West. I’m also from the Mid-West (western Kansas).
Now living in Seattle for the past 5yrs, I regret not photographing more of the great wide open landscape, abandoned farm homes, lighting/thunder storms and small town life that a lot of people forget about.

I knew there was a reason I instantly connected with your work once I discovered you! I am also from Lincoln and I love the natural beauty that is Nebraska. In another blogpost you mentioned a road trip through northern and southern Nebraska. If you haven’t already experienced this, I would suggest you drive while listening to Ted Kooser’s (was NE Poet Laureate, and US Poet Laureate) ‘Local Wonders – Seasons in the Bohemian Alps’. Utterly delightful and insightful! Love your work!

Hi Linda! That road-trip you mentioned, I never was able to do it. I ended up moving to Seattle so had to cancel it. I’ll have to revisit that idea and see if I can make the time … I haven’t taken a good road trip in a long while!

About Nicole

My name is Nicole and I'm a photographer living in Portland, Oregon. I write, travel around the world with my camera & share my knowledge about photography through books, my blog, and also social media.